Capital Trails Coalition

Capital Trails Coalition
Name	Capital Trails Coalition
Formation	2014
Type	Coalition
Purpose	Urban trails planning and advocacy
Region served	Washington metropolitan area
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.

Contents

Capital Trails Coalition is a regional partnership focused on creating a continuous network of shared-use trails across the Washington metropolitan area, involving agencies and advocates from Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The Coalition brings together municipal, state, and nonprofit actors including the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Transportation, and Virginia Department of Transportation with stakeholders such as National Park Service, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and local bicycle advocacy organizations like Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Its work intersects with planning efforts by entities such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, National Capital Planning Commission, and regional transit bodies including Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

History

Founded in 2014 through a collaborative effort by municipal and nonprofit partners, the Coalition emerged amid broader initiatives including the Capital Bikeshare expansion, the development of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, and legacy projects like the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park trail planning. Early meetings included representatives from agencies such as Arlington County, Virginia, Montgomery County, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and aligned with regional strategies from the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board and grant programs administered by Federal Highway Administration and Department of Transportation (United States). The Coalition’s growth mirrored investments in projects like the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, the Mount Vernon Trail, and the Georgetown Waterfront improvements, and was informed by precedent-setting efforts such as the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s nationwide campaigns and the advocacy of groups like LocalMotion and Smart Growth America.

The Coalition’s stated mission centers on creating an interconnected, safe, and accessible trail network to support nonmotorized transportation and recreation, advancing goals shared with entities like National Park Service and Arlington County, Virginia while supporting regional priorities of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and District Department of Transportation. Objectives include improving trail safety standards influenced by guidance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, increasing multimodal connectivity with projects coordinated alongside Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Metrorail, and promoting equitable access consistent with initiatives by Mid-Atlantic Equity Network and Fairfax County, Virginia planning. The Coalition also emphasizes data-driven outcomes using tools from organizations such as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and academic partners like George Washington University and University of Maryland, College Park.

The Coalition maps and advocates for a regionwide network linking prominent corridors including the C&O Canal Towpath, the Capital Crescent Trail, the W&OD Trail, and the Mount Vernon Trail, and connectors through municipalities such as Alexandria, Virginia, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Georgetown, Washington, D.C.. Plans and corridor studies reference regional initiatives like the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and the Rock Creek Park pathways while coordinating with projects at major nodes such as Union Station (Washington, D.C.), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and transportation hubs served by Amtrak and Metrorail. The Coalition’s route prioritization considers modal interfaces with networks overseen by National Park Service, local park systems like Prince George's County, Maryland parks, and connections to trailheads tied to landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol.

Governance is structured through a steering committee comprising representatives from municipal agencies including District of Columbia Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of Transportation, and Virginia Department of Transportation, regional planners from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, plus nonprofit members such as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Membership includes county-level participants like Montgomery County, Maryland and Fairfax County, Virginia, federal partners like National Park Service, and institutional partners including Smithsonian Institution affiliates and universities such as George Mason University. Decision-making follows collaborative models similar to those used by the National Capital Planning Commission and regional collaboratives like the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Funding streams combine federal grant programs administered by entities like the Federal Highway Administration and Department of Transportation (United States), state transportation allocations from Maryland Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Transportation, and philanthropic support from organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and private foundations. Partnerships extend to implementation partners including county public works departments in Arlington County, Virginia and Prince George's County, Maryland, nonprofit implementers like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and advocacy coalitions modeled after initiatives by Smart Growth America and America Walks. The Coalition leverages technical assistance from academic partners such as University of Maryland, College Park and George Washington University and coordinates with regional planners at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Measured impacts include expansion of mapped trail mileage connecting corridors like the Capital Crescent Trail and the Mount Vernon Trail, improved multimodal access near hubs such as Union Station (Washington, D.C.) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and policy influence on municipal planning in jurisdictions such as Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland. Outcomes documented by partners including Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and regional planning agencies reflect increased trail usage, safety improvements consistent with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials guidance, and integration with transit services operated by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Amtrak. The Coalition’s collaborative model has informed comparable regional efforts, drawing attention from national organizations such as Smart Growth America and contributing to discussions at forums convened by entities like the National Park Service.

Category:Trails in the United States Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.